2025 Bremley Chardonnay $55

When Vanessa and James Bresnehan won the prestigious 2024 Australian Pinot Noir Challenge with their 2023 Bremley Pinot Noir, it seemed like it was a matter of overnight success for the couple from the Coal River Valley. The truth is their win had been 15 years in the making.

The Bresnehans became industry newbies when they purchased land between Colebrook and Campania back in 2008. They'd simply planned to run a small family farm, raising a few sheep and growing a bit of barley. But up in the back corner was a run-down block of vines. Around 2ha of Chardonnay – with a small amount of Pinot Noir as well – planted right at the start of the Noughties.

The couple had no idea about cool-climate viticulture. But with more than a little help and good advice from the right industry people, they re-invigorated the old vineyard. It wasn't long before Fosters-owned Southcorp came knocking at their door. The couple became contracted growers, and over time have developed their site to its present-day 16ha.

Southcorp begat Treasury Wine Estates which begat Penfolds Yattarna Chardonnay, if we can get all Biblical. The Bresnehans are long-time Yattarna growers, one of a small number of Tasmanian producers that contribute to a chic, multi-regional blend that in 2025 included fruit from Tumbarumba (NSW) and the Adelaide Hills (SA). They really know how to make Chardonnay tick.

Bremley's 2025 Chardonnay was handcrafted by the Coal River Valley team of Pooley & Bubb. 

The Pooleys are dab hands when it comes to barrel-fermented Chardonnay. (They are also former Yattarna growers.) Meticulous care and attention are their watchwords.

The wine sprang to life after a long, slow fermentation in 500L French oak puncheons (30 percent of it new, courtesy of Burgundy's François Frères Cooperage). The three discretely different parcels of fruit selected from Bremley's extensive plantings were whole-bunch pressed at the outset, highlighting the elegance and purity of Chardonnay grown in southern Tasmania's cool maritime climate.

Gentle lees-stirring and around nine months in oak have added subtle layers of texture without distracting from the wine's fundamental strengths – that elegance and purity.

In the glass, it's surely a smooth operator. Subtle citrus and white peach nuances are neatly framed by fine natural acidity and a certain savoury/minerally/briny finish which seems to typify many of the Chardonnays you find in this valley.

The team at Havilah paired the wine with a burrata, asparagus and salsa verde-topped focaccia at a recent Winemakers Spotlight event in Launceston. It worked a treat. Delicious.

Source: Havilah Winemakers Spotlight Atom x Bremley held 15 October 2026

www.bremley.com.au

Last page update: 19 October 2026